本文的核心问题意识是，中国为什么长期坚持户籍制度？从制度现状来看，户籍制度对中国由身份社会转型为契约社会的阻碍作用日渐凸显，其背后蕴含的社会不公平问题以及阻碍经济发展等问题引发了越来越多的批判；从制度改革来看，治理者倾向用经济性修补规避公民赋权的政治性问题，新的改革举措甚至会成为新的限制措施，从而进一步拉大了现实需求与改革进度之间的差距。更进一步地说，本文试图为这样一个问题提供一个内生性解释：为什么在制度存在条件逐步消失的情况下，户籍制度依然能够保持稳中有进的制度韧性？本文从“身份”的视角切入户籍制度的社会控制议题，将户籍制度定义为一项将身份嵌入社会控制中的制度建构。嵌入其中的“身份”有两重含义：首先是作为差异化、类型化管理手段的社会控制策略；其次是由户籍制度参与构建的身份系统，它规定了城乡分野、地区差异、城市内部二元分化的微观基础。本文的研究进路以国家干预下的户籍制度的自我调适为主线展开。从户籍制度改革基本格局的判断到大城市户籍制度改革的类型学分析，再到户籍制度改革极化个案的比较，本文的每个研究步骤都以前一个研究结论为基础，并提出进一步的追问，在呈现户籍改革全景图式的同时，逐步深挖户籍制度韧性根源及其改革症结之所在。在研究方法上，依据研究思路的脉络以及各章节的功能，本文采取基于多元主义范式的混合研究方法。对整体性、宏观性问题的分析采用以统计分析和计量模型为主的定量分析方法，在特殊性、解释性议题中采用以文本分析和个案分析为主的定性分析方法。本文研究发现，在经历了制度变迁后，户籍制度在策略匹配和制度匹配两个层面上实现了较为稳固的均衡状态，其最初表现出的零散性、碎片化的社会控制适应性逐步演变为制度化水平较高的适应型社会控制。但是随着人口形势变化、市场经济发展以及社会成员的主体性崛起，以户籍制度为基础的身份系统将呈现出弱化甚至消解的趋势。从微观个体层面观察，这种变化体现为“不完整的公民身份”将逐渐弥合其缺损之处，身份系统也将由异质性户籍身份走向平等的公民身份。从宏观远景层面考察，公民权利平等化的实现将为城市权利的形成提供基础性条件。

This study explores why the Household Registration System (the hukou system) has survived for such a long time in contemporary China. It is originated from the practice happened in reality. There are two dimensions to discuss the question. On the one hand, the hukou system performs as a key obstacle during the transition from an identity society to a contract society, playing a crucial role to facilitate the rapid but uneven economic growth, and to shape stratification and inequality. On the other hand, state prefers to make an improvement technically and marginally, instead of giving social member equal citizenship politically. As a result, China’s hukou system demonstrates remarkable continuities in its administration. Especially, it leads to the principles of population control, which remains fundamentally unchanged. From the perspective of identity, this thesis outlines the social control nature of the hukou system, defining it as an institution construction that deeply embedded identity in the social control. Identity has dual meanings in the definition; firstly, it is a strategy for social control that is based on the different rights and welfare; secondly, it is a social system that regulates the microscopic foundation of the urban-rural differences and regional differences and internal differences of cities.Specifically speaking, the research approach of this thesis is based on the self-adjustment of institution under state intervention. The main part of thesis constitutes the background of the basic pattern of reform, the typology research of major cities and the comparison of typical cases. Every single research section is based on the previous one and makes further questions, so as to make parts of the thesis related closely. This thesis applies the mixed-method. According to the context and the function of each section, the research methods employed are different. Qualitative method is utilized in the case study and historical research, and the quantitative method is applied in empirical study. Research techniques are diversified, including demographic analysis of statistical data, field survey and participant observations etc.With self-adjustmentand continuities, the hukou system achieves a kind of equalization with strategy complementarity and institution complementarity, as the social control adaptation that was scattered initially transforms into a stable pattern adaptability type. Strategy complementarity refers to a stable balance that state, society and market makes rational decisions regulated by the social control logic of the hukou system. Strategy complementarity refers to an institutional system in which a coupling is established between the hukou system and other related institutions.With the development of market-oriented economy, changes of the demographic situation and the rise of the social members, there actually is a tendency for this socio-political control function to be insignificant. From the micro perspective, this tendency refers to an improvement from incomplete citizenship to complete citizenship. From the macro perspective, this tendency makes city rights that is based on equal civil rights expectable.